Lorena Misculin, a senior, is more than just an ordinary student.
She is an International Baccalaureate student with a 4.5 GPA, an athlete on three sports teams and the student body president.
The 17-year-old is enrolled in four IB classes: history, English, math and Spanish.
Lorena’s favorite class is English, she said, because she loves to write.
“Sometimes, IB can be overwhelming, especially while trying to balance it with extra-curricular activities," Lorena said. "But I think it's important to challenge yourself.”
And she does just that.
Learning time-management through sports
Lorena is on the basketball, cross-country and track and field teams at Cap.
“Basketball has always been and always will be my favorite sport,” said Lorena.
She has played basketball all four years she’s been at Cap, and she served as team captain during her sophomore and senior years. In her sophomore year, Lorena won a district-wide honorable mention, and this past season she won the Team Leadership Award.
Lorena said cross-country taught her a lot about self-discipline and mental toughness and it has made her a stronger person both physically and mentally.
“My favorite thing about cross-country is the feeling you get right after you cross the finish line after a three-mile race in 90-degree weather,” she said. “There's no greater sense of self-accomplishment.”
Lorena enjoys track and field because she likes to run, lift weights and stay in shape, she said.
“Getting exercise and following a daily sports routine has made me learn valuable time-management skills,” she said.
Learning to be a leader
Besides being an IB student and an athlete, Lorena is also the student body president.
“She has the attitude and initiative that energize others toward a common goal,” said Lorena’s father, Guido Misculin.
Her duties are to oversee the planning process of many student activities and provide structure for the leadership class.
“The past three years in leadership have taught me many life skills that I can use in the real world and it has really been a gratifying and positive experience,” she said.
And how does she manage her time to complete all of these time consuming tasks?
“Sometimes I worry that she may be taking on too many roles, but her commitment is very inspirational and to see her keep her focus and get things done is very gratifying,” Misculin said.
Lorena seems to know how to manage her time.
It’s all about prioritizing, she said. “It's not easy, though, because just like any teenager I sometimes find myself procrastinating and I probably don't get enough sleep as I should.”
Beyond high school
Lorena is motivated by her future. “I want everything I'm doing now to somehow help me or better equip me for the future,” she said.
Lorena wants to major in English at a University of California school. She is thinking about being an English teacher.
Her hobbies include hanging out with friends, reading and playing basketball.
